What does it mean to be awake?

That is truly the greatest question that one can ask.

One can say 'to be aware', but this is only substituting for a synonym. What does it truly mean to be awake; to be alive; to be conscious; to exist; to be? what separates conscious from unconscious... from everything we experience [life], to nothingness [deep sleep].... this is THE question.

The answer... not so easy to explain. But the answer is all around us and within us... everywhere and everything. and slowly, we are discovering the great answer piece by piece.... because in order to know it, you can't be told it... you simply have to experience it for yourself.

Seeing things as they are without needing the mind to interpret. Realizing intuitively that who you really are is not the body or the mind or anything in particular. Obviously this can't be explained in words because words are dualistic and ridiculous in that sense.. how can we create a language without knowing the intrinsic nature of anything around us.

We abide in the situation were thrown into and have no control. We create the illusion of control that causes suffering. Someone who is awake simply does not suffer anymore because he or she has let go of this illusion.

If you want further 'information'.. seek the teachings of the Tao or Buddha. Or talks by Adyashanti on youtube.

Btw.. you're already 'awake' all you need to do is remember who you really are. It's really so bloody simple lol, everybody is just too attached to thinking like they actually know something about this situation we call life.

I think you are asking what is the difference between asleep and awake.

What defines us as being awake.

The main definition is that the brain is in control and decisions are made to have things happen.

When we sleep the command centre has shut down and all systems are on automatic. When we are awake some are still on automatic (breathing, bloodflow etc) but it is the only time when conscious decisions control the body.

In my perspective, I would say that to many philosophers, the word awake... means to see with the eyes of your heart, I would say to be able to do this is live the present the moment that your breathing, because most of the times, when we are living we always live in a fantasy world always worrying about the future... our duties for the next day, and we are not living the present, that is the only reality, because we don't know if we will live the next day... To be awake is to have your conscious in fully control.

There is an attentive, alertness, which is different to the ordinary muted way of looking, listening and feeling, as we do day to day. I don't know why, but the default is the humdrum, messy mind. The attentive, alert mind, is actually effortlessly inquiring, but we seem to prefer the mundane calculating and quantitative mind. Have you noticed you can tell you are dreaming, or the mind is sleepy, tired? This awareness is very subtle. It is not controlling, not dominating, not authoritative, and so is neglected as unimportant.

To be "awake," in most poems and literature, means to be aware. Like before you might have been in the dark about things, but now you see things clearly.

Well it's not where you wake. It's simply not being asleep.

But if someone is using it in a different way or as a figure of speach it might mean being conscious of what they are saying, being awaye or maybe in reality.

*Shrug* Your question is a bit vague.

To be awake is to be aware of whats going on to be conscious

When you're aware of your surroundings and your eyes are open.

To be aware